Deluge in Denver: Nuggets 132, Warriors 110

On Sunday night in Oroville, California over 100,000 people had to be evacuated due to a structural problem with the Lake Oroville damn emergency spillway. The deluge of rain from a succession of winter storms in Northern California had filled the lake to over 100% of capacity, and there is a fear that if the structural damage leads to a rupture there will be a catastrophic flood in the region. Northern Californians are praying this doesn’t happen, and engineers are working this week between storms to repair the damage to the spillway. Last night in Denver, the Warriors could not repair the damage brought on by a deluge of 3 point shots by the white hot Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets came out firing from the perimeter and kept at it all game, breaking the dam and flooding the scoreboard on their way to an NBA record-tying 24 three point shots in just 40 attempts. The Warriors, who Steve Kerr said lacked energy all game, were coming off two physically and emotionally draining games against the Grizzlies and Thunder, and on Monday night they came down hard from Saturday night’s cupcake sugar high. Anthony Slater characterized the Warriors state of energy in millennial terms on twitter: “That Memphis, OKC back-to-back was like a 30-hour rave for the Warriors. This Nuggets game is the energy crash hangover.” The Nuggets 132 points were the most scored by a Warriors opponent all season, and they put up 79 of them in the first half. Steph Curry quipped after the loss that the Warriors “just got served a humble slice of cupcake.”

The Warriors are the best team in the league defending the 3 point line, and it’s not even close. They allow opponents a meager 31.9% from the arc this season, but on Monday Denver shot an uncanny 60%. Klay Thompson was out with an injured heel, and that may have hurt the Warriors perimeter defense, but the Nuggets were getting wide open looks all game long. They moved the ball crisply, and finished the game with 34 assists. They were able to play in rhythm for most of the night. Seven of the Nuggets players made three point shots, led by Juan Hernangomez with 6, Jameer Neslon with 5, and Will Barton and Gary Harris with 4 apiece. Ironically, the Nuggets best player on the night, Nikalo Jokic, did not take a single 3 point shot. But he did just about everything else. Recording a triple double, Jokic finished the night with 17 points, 21 rebounds, and 12 assists. Jockic, a 20 year old 2nd round draft pick, is one of the NBA’s best young centers. He isn’t a rim protector, but he does everything else at a very high level. He can handle the ball, is an excellent passer, and has soft hands. He’s a floor general out of the high post, seeing the court and reading defenses well, and when he is in the block he is able to finish with his length and fluidity. He doesn’t have great lift or explosion, but his length enables him to finish well around the basket. On one sequence last night, he took a crossover dribble on the wing and got to the key just below the free throw line. He took a smooth double clutch jumper that swished the net. He plays with a veteran savvy that belies his age and experience.

In essence the Nuggets looked more like the Warriors last night than the Warriors did due to their efficient shooting and crisp ball movement. The Warriors, on other hand, looked like a team missing in action. In stark contrast to the Nuggets, the Warriors were awful from distance, shooting just 8 of 32 from beyond the arc. Steph Curry struggled the most, making just 1 of 11 three pointers and finishing the nights with 11 points and 5 assists on 4 for 18 shooting. In addition to poor shooting, the Warriors gave up extra possessions to the Nuggets. They were outrebounded 52 to 25, and Denver outscored the Warriors on second chance points 21-4.

If every flood has its rainbow, then for the Warriors that came in the form of strong minutes from their youngsters. In a sneak preview of the Warriors 2017 Las Vegas Summer League squad, Patrick McCaw, Kevon Looney, Brieante Weber, James Michael McAdoo, and Damian Jones were able to get a lot of time on the floor in the 4th quarter. McCaw, who started the game, scored a career high 19 points, the most points for a Warriors rookie since Harrison Barnes scored 19 points in February of 2013. McCaw shot 8 of 15 from the field and was the best Warrior on the floor in the 4th quarter when the reserves trimmed down a 25 point Nuggets lead to 9. McCaw was assertive, looking for his shot, and taking his man off the dribble, something he doesn’t do as often with the starters. In one sequence, he ran a route from the free throw line to the baseline and back to the sideline by the Warriors’ bench where he curled around a screen and caught the ball and swished a three. He looked like Klay Thompson the way he moved without the ball. Ian Clark was other reserve who was productive with his minutes, resurging with 18 points on 8 for 15 shooting. Clark, who has been quiet over the past few games, needed a night like Monday to get back into a shooting groove. Perhaps no one on the team is more affected by the loss of David West than Clark, who earlier in the season feasted on passes from West when cutting to basket. First round draft pick Damian Jones was able to log a season-high 12 minutes as well, scoring 4 points. It was good for him to get sustained minutes and make some plays against NBA level competition.

Once the reserves cut the Denver lead to the single digits, Steve Kerr opted to keep them in the game and let his starters sit out for the duration. Though the Warriors made a run in the 4th quarter, the Nuggets hit a string of shots to re-widen the gap. The only thing left to decide by the last few minutes of the game was the 3 point record, which Denver matched.

Once in a while, even the best teams are beat by an opponent that shoots lights out for a night. The Denver Nuggets could have beaten any team the way they were shooting and rebounding on Monday. The crushing deluge of three point shots would have been too much for any team to overcome. The Warriors have one more game at home against Sacramento on Wednesday before the All Star Break. They have a score to settle with the Kings, so it should be a fun game. A victory over the Kings would not only be payback, but help the Warriors put Monday night’s blowout loss to the Nuggets behind them. After Wednesday’s game, the team will get a needed break, though four of their players won’t get the full benefit of rest due to their participation in the All Star Game, but no one is complaining. Finally, the Oroville Dam situation mentioned above remains a serious concern for the people of that region. Our thoughts go out to those who have been displaced, and we offer our best hopes for a speedy and effective repair of the spillway.

RobertL

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But at the time, Myers said Barnes was the guy they wanted all along in that draft. In other words, the Warriors considered Barnes like a #1 pick.

This lead to my disillusionment with Barnes, lasting to this day, but I’m mostly off of it now.

Barnes done well for a 7 pick.

Marc

I think so too.

Phan Boi

it’s just that he is an ex-player whom some don’t like and some that do not, wish we could leave it like that.

Champs15

Told you Draymond was ready for break.

Son of Ahmed

I think over time we will see Looney become a stretch four. This season he’s playing the post game, mostly concerned with rebounding, defending the paint, and getting garbage points off rebounds and dump offs. But his skill set goes beyond that.

He’s not much of a risk-taker and he seems to have a conformist personality. But once the game at the NBA level slows down for him, and I think that’s already starting to happen as you point out, we will see him handle the ball more and look for his shot at the arc. Might not happen until next season, but I’m looking for flashes this season after the ASB.

Champs15

That is absurd to think that Barnes would have been #1 pick. No, he wouldn’t have been #1 pick. Myers meant to say at #7, if Barnes falls he was their #1 pick. Even in that event, he did better than say Kidd who was picked #2.

Champs15

something is clicking, Looney has been more aggressive. Same with McAdoo though McAdoo is a poor rebounder.

Champs15

That play probably why scouts compared Looney to Durant.

Champs15

Leave the rest to old guys. McCaw, Looney, Weber and McAdoo should work like crazy on their game during this break.

Marc

I appreciate what he did for the Warriors, especially the Championship.

Marc

Yea, wasn’t AD the 1 pick? Certainly Myers and DEest would take him. JWest wanted Waiters at that slot.

Son of Ahmed

Yup. He has to get both of his feet set. He’s skilled, but not fast or explosive. Yet his length compensates as it gets him closer to the hoop faster.

Though on offense he may have a delayed response, the opposite is true when it comes to rebounding, especially on the Warriors’ end of the floor. He’s was uncanny on the boards in college, and we’ve flashes of that at the NBA level.

Tirdad

McCaw was amazing during the 3rd. Didn’t look like a rookie.

And my favorite play was Steph lob to Javale. It was KO.

Marc

You were 100% right. He was ready.

Champs15

McCaw started season promisingly, slowed down and now picked up his game again. Warriors could use him for stretch run.

Champs15

Slightly different take, should develop a consistent outside jumper and post game to survive in the league. He is above average rebounder, so he has that going for him.

Peter Moto

wiggins was projected higher than barnes was, at the times the players were drafted. would rather compare guys in the same draft class. the lottery picks in barnes’ class had plenty of disappointments much worse than his little let down last spring [waiters, robinson, marshall, rivers, white]. there are a few interesting guys picked lower, other than green, such as the two way wings crowder, middleton, and barton. the non lottery first rounders include one who’s already dead (fab melo), another probably done with bad knees (ezeli), and a handful of others who will have o.k. careers but nothing special (zeller, fournier, t.jones, plumlee). at unrealistic best, they draft drummond for bogut’s back up in barnes’ lottery slot, and pick up a wing in ezeli’s draft spot from the trio mentioned.

Thank you for the link! I wish it ended just before the Faried quote, that would’ve been much better. Would’ve been awesome, IMO. It started with some sensitivity towards people affected with ADHD. It was descriptive, non-judgmental, exploratory, even humorous.

“…this is the guy who, during practice recently, watched a botched Brewer
shot hit the backboard near the NBA logo, prompting McGee to scurry
toward the glass and exclaim: “Hey, Jerry West, you OK?””

Ha ha, so good. That’s brilliant!

But I think the analogy to him being a “circus unto himself” seems a tad judgmental. I’ve known, worked with, and counseled people with things like bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tourrette’s, and OCD. Most cannot understand how differently people process things or see thee world. It’s worth understanding, so we can be more inclusive as communities… Not just saying, “I knew there was something wrong with you, but I didn’t know it was that.”

Oh, and I’ll revisit a comment I made prior to this season:
“Andre vouched for him. So, I’ll choose to trust that.” Yeah. Happy for JaVale, and so happy he’s a Warrior. He seems to fit perfectly here. Love it.

jsl165

Loose logic, Marc.

jsl165

Now we’re talking.

Bill P

Good luck. years of ad hom from Barnes folks toward Barnes critics surely dried up that wishing well some time ago.

I don’t want to seem conceited, still I can’t help but wonder if this game becomes a defining point for the Kings. Is it clear that even with Lawson back healthy, they almost certainly aren’t up to a level of competing for a championship? Would it be worth trading young assets for some sort of upgrade and maybe a chance at one playoff series, or at most two? More likely, seems to me like Collison, Koufos, and others could be traded. Try to build a lot stronger for next season?

Yup. I just finished listening to his SoundCloud postgame. Same ol’ DeMarcus. It’s a shame, he’s a real talent. But his mindset isn’t up to par with his physical skills. Six weeks ago, when the Dubs beat them, he was saying, “We always have those bad stretches…” He got angry at a reporter for asking if he was frustrated. Tonight he explained the Q3 Dubs’ run, “We knew it would happen…” Mystifying, indeed. Cheers.

Perspective

one of the announcers made a point that Kerr was looking for a 3rd string team of 5 who were balanced and could play together. I’m not sold on Jones (prefer West there), but that final group of 5 does seem to have some cohesion. They know they need offense in that group, and it was to smile to see Looney and JMM hoisting up those J’s. They do seem to D.

Metaldubs

Just got off plane and saw we won! Woot!!! 3rd qtr must’ve been insane!

SurfCity

I quoted you directly. Wake up little Knicky. You’re having a dream.

SurfCity

Shrombo brings up Barnes in pretty much any situation, mainly ones that have nothing to do with Barnes. It’s just his way of dissing Barnes, which is his favorite pastime. Most don’t take him seriously.

SurfCity

That comment is a load of manure.

Bay Area Warrior Fan

New post

NCDub

marc
Luv Ya but not your statement–could have said u

Phan Boi

BS Bill as usual your playing the victim, BS, back to the permanent block. This blog ? it is not about you it is about the Warriors.

Phan Boi

Thanks, must have got it wrong.

Moped

Against the knicks the UCOnn women would win in four.

Bill P

Thanks for the morning laugh. hilarious irony. Ad hom when i pointed out that Barnes fans have but one ploy, ad hom. How perfectly timed. Thanks for the volunteered proof and the lecture to boot. Clearly you need a safe place to keep your perspectives. Please do feel free to block me and all the other voices here you don’t care for. Please make it permanent. We won’t mind. Sure beats one of your lectures, and it confines you to your safe place where HB was a hero and everyone thinks so. HIs hero’ing was huge. Tremendous. Such a hero. HB has the biggest heroing. Cheers.